We’ve learnt our lessons from Edo poll, says INEC boss

• Yakubu visits Ondo to assess preparedness for guber election
• Aiyedatiwa’s performance at debate signposts preparedness, says Akinlosotu
• Downsizing not on my agenda, governor assures workers
• Youth Minister rallies support for Aiyedatiwa

The National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the flaws observed and recorded during the recent Edo State gubernatorial election have been identified and will be improved upon during the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.

Yakubu, while assuring the electorate in the state that the governorship poll will be seamless, said that the two challenges that hindered the Edo election were logistic issues and result management.

According to the INEC chairman, who spoke in Akure, the state capital, the electoral body is fully prepared for the poll, hence, his arrival in the state to meet with stakeholders ahead of the election.

The INEC boss, who disclosed that mock accreditation of voters would be observed in six local councils of the state tomorrow, added that the peace accord would also be signed by the political gladiators in the state.

Meanwhile, the INEC chairman, who at the state headquarters of the commission inaugurated the new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) storage facility, said: “This facility is an essential component in maintaining the integrity of our electoral process.”

IN another development, the Commissioner for Information in Ondo State, Wale Akinlosotu, has described the performance of Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, during the governorship debate, organised by Channels Television, as an indication of his preparedness and readiness to govern the state.

Akinlosotu, who stated that Aiyedatiwa trounced his opponent of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Agboola Ajayi, stressed that the debate was an opportunity for the governor to showcase his achievements across all sectors of the state. He said that Aiyedatiwa had taken governance to another level in the state in the last 10 months.

Meanwhile, Aiyedatiwa has assured civil servants in the state that he would not downsize the workforce no matter the level of recruitment to fill vacant positions.

He disclosed this, yesterday, in Akure, Ondo State capital, during the Ondo State Public Service Week celebration lecture with the theme “Creating and Managing a Future-Ready Public Service: A Pathway to Sustainable Development.”

HOWEVER, Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, yesterday, rallied youths in the state to support the governor ahead of the governorship election in the state. Olawande, who led the youths on a solidarity walk to mobilise voters for Aiyedatiwa, stated that the youths would vote for the governor.